Abstract

We live in a society where life expectancy has progressively increased, leading to a larger and more significant representation of older people in our population. This demographic group has shown a greater interest in continuous learning throughout their life cycle, seeking to remain active and integrated. Nowadays, there are various training programs tailored to older individuals, such as universities for the elderly, offering diverse educational opportunities. This study focuses on language learning and the numerous benefits it brings to senior citizens. The main objective is to describe the motivation that emerges during the process of learning English as a foreign language for adult learners attending the Permanent Classroom for Senior Citizens at the University of Granada in Granada and Melilla. Employing qualitative research methods, interviews were conducted to gather participants’ testimonies. The findings revealed a strong correlation between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and the process of learning English. Personal satisfaction emerged as a crucial factor driving motivation to learn and to feel engaged and integrated into society.